APRIL 7
Deuteronomy
31:1-32:27
One of the
things that happens when you read your Bible year after year, even if you have
a brain like mine that only works intermittently, is that you make connections.
You read something here, and later in another OT book or in the NT, you find
the same, or similar, thing. It helps make all of this reading a lot of fun,
especially knowing the Spirit is showing you stuff. You can always do a word
search, but this is different. There is nothing like making natural connections
to spark your curiosity. Below, I'll mention some things about the "sons
of God." I didn't get that out of a seminary class or someone's book. It
just happened after reading the Bible through for a few years. Suddenly all
these puzzle pieces that I'd been viewing, year after year, came together.
After preaching and studying for years, I know the difference between things
that the Lord has led me to find naturally in my time together with Him, and
things I dig up for a sermon. The stuff I read or find for a sermon is either
forgotten or stored up with other information in my head. What the Lord shows
me becomes a part of my heart and conviction in following Him in the harvest. I
think this will be the same for you.
Deuteronomy 31
Notice the
recurring words, strong and courageous.
We'll be seeing them again.
Vs. 1-6 This is
the conclusion of Moses' sermon, but not the end of his words in the book. This
was probably one of the longest and greatest sermons ever preached. Even though
we'll see that Israel, as a nation, didn't obey what God said through Moses,
this particular generation did.
V. 2 I read a
comment that Moses was saying here that he was too old to lead Israel in the
conquest of Canaan. That is not the point. In a couple of chapters we'll hear
that Moses was fit until the day he died. If Joshua and Caleb were about the
same age, they were scrappy 80 year-olds. Moses could have done it but God
said, "No."
V. 4 The
victories against Sihon and Og were important motivational events that God had
designed.
V. 6 Leave you or forsake you is quoted by
the writer of Hebrews in 13:5. Take note of these words because we'll see them
again and something like this is echoed today in Luke.
Vs. 7-8 There
has already been a ceremony giving Joshua the leadership. As a good leader,
Moses is charging Joshua again in front of the people. You may recognize strong and courageous from the famous
verse in Joshua 1:9. Joshua 1:8 is also a famous verse but we'll talk about
that when we get there. Both here in Deuteronomy and there in Joshua, these two
words are said several times. Leave you
or forsake you is repeated again also.
V. 8 is quoted
again to Joshua, and later in the NT in Hebrews 13:5.
Vs. 9-13 Notice
the importance of the Feast of Booths. Although all the men had to be present
at the tabernacle every year for this event, every seventh year everyone had to
come to the tabernacle. On that occasion, the scroll of Deuteronomy would be
read. God built the feasts to influence the men, who would influence the
nation. And then these special events would aid families in teaching their
children. And then we read in Nehemiah 8:17 that Israel never kept the Feast of
Booths after Joshua.
Vs. 14-15 This
was God's commissioning of Joshua. I wonder if the people were impressed that
the pillar of cloud appeared over the tabernacle. God would do more to elevate
Joshua.
I know the
minute Moses died and was standing with God, getting a big hug, he thought,
"Why didn't I do this sooner?" Yet as I read this it makes me feel
like moving out of a house, going room to room to make sure it's in order and
then finally you turn out the light and shut the door. It's kind of funky and
sad. But again, the minute he was in heaven, looking out over the golf course
and seeing the club house, I'll bet Moses said, "Yes!"
Vs. 16-18 This
appears to have taken place as Moses and Joshua were standing before the
tabernacle. Maybe when Moses heard this he was happy to be going. Notice that
their sin will be idolatry. It will be a very personal affront to God since He
is the Only God and has saved them. Notice how the word forsake is used of the people and of God. It is cause and effect.
We'll see this in the NT today.
V. 18 This
defines a lot of God's judgment. As we do to God, He does to us. But beyond
that, we see over and over again that He acts in mercy and grace, when we don't
deserve these things and He is restlessly seeking to save and guide mankind. It
isn't that there isn't grace in the OT. There is plenty of it. But His grace is
seen in all of its clarity after all of the OT history, and then as it is
defined in the coming and sacrifice of our Lord.
Vs. 19-22 Moses
preached a sermon, and now he was writing a song.
V. 23 I don't
know if anyone else heard this, but Joshua had a heart of faith and you
couldn't want any more confirmation than this.
Vs. 24-30 The
book of Deuteronomy was placed next to the ark of the covenant. The Ten
Commandments were inside. Now Moses must have written the song and was getting
everyone together to hear it. This was a lot of work for Moses. Again, it
reminds me of moving.
Deuteronomy
32:1-27
So actually,
God wrote this song. I'll bet it had a catchy tune. Now, after preaching and
writing this song, Moses gets to sing.
Vs. 1-3 This
song was to permeate the minds of the people like dew. Catchy tunes do this to
us. Once you get it in your mind, it is hard to get it out. This is calling all
creation to testify to the truth. The greatness of God will be seen in the
contrast of His goodness and grace to them and their rebellion toward Him. Israel
will be seen as the example of what happens when man is shown mercy by God, but
the power of sin remains unbroken.
Vs. 4-7 This is
the summary of the charge against Israel. Notice v. 6. There are very few
references in the OT where God is referred to as father. That makes this unique.
Vs. 8-9 These
are very important verses. There is good evidence for this reading sons of God. It refers to angels to whom
God gave the guardianship of the nations. You find sons of God also in Job 1:6 where they are definitely angels with
responsibility to watch over the earth. In Job, Satan seems to be the head of
these angels. Again, in Genesis 6:2 as a contributing cause of the wickedness
in mankind, these sons of God are very likely angels. In Daniel 10 you see
these sons of God, among whom the
nations were divided, as the prince of Persia and the prince of Greece and you
realize they are demons. Link this together with what Satan tells Jesus in the
temptation and what Paul says about the principalities and powers, and you get
a picture of God having given Satan a kind of guiding responsibility over the
mankind and the nations that would arise. God never revoked that responsibility
from Satan after the fall of Satan or the fall of man. It seems that with the
fall of mankind, Satan's guidance over mankind and the nations went from a
servant's role to that of a ruling guardian's authority, because of our sin.
Yet, within this system that God Himself set up, He chose one man and one nation
for Himself to be a witness to the world, and through which His plan of
redemption would go forward.
Satan thought
that He had crippled God's plan in getting Israel to deny God and follow idols,
and then especially in getting Israel to crucify its Messiah; but God's plan
for Israel will be fulfilled during the time of "Jacob's Trouble,"
(the Tribulation) and then in the Millennium. Also, after Christ's
resurrection, a new nation sprang into being, over which Satan has no
authority. This temporary nation has no geographical boundaries, no common
language, no unique ethnicity. This nation without earthly definition has only
one common link: The Blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Today it is the
Church that God is using to work in the harvest and to win the day and hold
back the night. Soon, Israel will take up the torch.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God,
which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age
understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory.
Vs. 10-14 This
is God loving and establishing Israel. It is pure grace.
Vs. 15-18 This,
unfortunately, will be Israel’s response after they get into the land.
V. 17 This is
reminiscent of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians
10:20, No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not
to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
Vs. 19-22 We’ll
see this throughout all of Israel’s history from Judges to Malachi. What is
interesting here is the prophetic reach of these verses. In Romans 10 Paul and
the Spirit will tell us that that foolish nation is the church.
V. 21 Paul
quotes the second half of this verse in Romans 10:19, referring to the church
taking over Israel’s responsibility to be a witness to the nations and thus
making Israel jealous enough, eventually, to get saved. Reading the first half
of the verse explains a lot of things and helps to understand the verse in
Romans better.
Vs. 23-27 are
interesting. This sounds like what Moses said to God, that if He destroyed them
in the wilderness, the nations would think ill of God. In this case, the
nations would think they were responsible for the demise of Israel, maybe by
cursing them like Balak tried to do. It adds something to this verse when you
think of vs. 8 and 9 and the spiritual dimension of what God is doing. In spite
of Israel’s sin and rebellion, and regardless of the spiritual opposition they
have and will face, God will bring Israel to a place of honor, fulfilling their
mission and destiny.
Luke 12:8-34
Vs. 8-12 Jesus
continues (from yesterday) His talk to His disciples concerning the leaven of
the Pharisees and fearing to speak the truth. Paul must have known this saying
of Jesus when he shares this with Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:11-13, The saying
is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if
we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.
Since all of the
Twelve, except for Judas, were believers who couldn't lose their salvation, how
do you account for all of what Jesus is saying here? I think this is a general
statement about the persecution they will face. Some of it is a warning to them
and some is an assurance of justice in the battle.
Vs. 8-9 These
are for the disciples. They are being left on earth to give testimony. They
will be acknowledged before the angels in that they will receive help. But if a
person decides to hide and not testify of Christ and not acknowledge Him, what
help do they need since they are really trying to help themselves. In this
sense, although they really do need help but are helping themselves, Jesus will
"deny" His own help by not sending angelic assistance. That is my
take on this. It all goes back to "I will never leave you or forsake
you." But if we choose to leave and forsake our testimony of Him, He
withholds His help. I think that makes sense.
Vs. 10-12 This
is justice to the unbelieving. In their current situation, some were blasting
Jesus, but some were calling Jesus demon-possessed. God was keeping track of
all of that. There would be justice. The concern of the disciples was to be
willing to speak in persecution and allow the Spirit to speak through them.
V. 12 is not
meant to be the verse of assurance for the unprepared Sunday school teacher. It
only works if you're being persecuted in the harvest.
Vs. 13-34 The
fear of death and persecution isn't the only thing that keeps us from following
in the harvest. The other destructive force to following Christ as disciples is
the desire for stuff and the anxiousness for our basic needs.
Some of these
sayings are new, and some of them were said earlier in His ministry to the
disciples after He selected the Twelve and gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matt.
5-7, Luke 6). Like a good teacher, Jesus didn't say something just once. In
this case, the needs of the disciples are different and they have a much more
mature idea of what it means to follow Jesus. Now, that old message has new
meaning. As Paul said to the Philippians in Philippians 3:1, Finally, my
brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to
me, and is safe for you.
Jesus' method
of training His disciples was to orient them (all the time up to and including
the Sermon on the Mount), involve them in ministry with Him, and as they grew,
as the occasions presented themselves, He taught them as they lived together.
Since this portion, occurring here in Jesus' training of His disciples, is
unique to Luke, as you read it, think of what it might have meant to the
disciples now. They had seen the crowds leave Jesus and they've seen the
Pharisees unite with the Herodians to destroy Jesus. They had seen Jesus' power
in ways that assured them that He was the Son of God and crowds still followed
Him, but Jesus was talking more and more about His death and resurrection.
Vs. 13-21 The
point here is that there was no need for anxiousness or security. The ground
brought forth from God every year. A disciple's security is that his treasure
and provider is in heaven.
Vs. 22-31 This
was said in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice the impact of vs. 25 and 26. This
is a slight addition to the Sermon. I like the translation of a
"cubit." If you can't add 18 inches to the length of your life, why
worry about the rest? For all of our health consciousness, there is nothing we
can do to add 18 inches. Wow! And God has already determined, like with Moses,
when it is time to turn off the lights and shut the door.
Vs. 32-34 This
first verse is unique to Luke and I'm very challenged here. Since it is the
Father's good pleasure, understanding the absolute desire of our Father to
bless us in the harvest, we should have this heart. It doesn't mean God is
asking all of us to give everything away (to some He did and does), but we
should have this joy of heart. We should know this so that if He said it, we'd
do it. If we can't do it, we don't really understand the impact and joy of what
Jesus just said and it may be that we, as disciples, have a case of the "idols."
We are not that far removed from what we are reading in Deuteronomy. Notice in
v. 15 that Jesus uses a very strong repeated caution. This is extremely
dangerous for us as followers. The desire for other things than Christ on this
earth is a "lamer" of disciples and a killer of fruit.
So much of what
we are reading points to the need to have the power of sin broken and for
mankind to be redeemed. Through Israel, God has shown mankind that sin is the
most powerful destructive force in reality. Through Israel God has shown
mankind and the angelic world that His grace and love have no end. But now
through Christ, we see God's infinite wisdom in all He has done. Through a
"defeat" on the cross has come victory, and now the weak and foolish
and low and despised have been gathered into a "nation" of the
redeemed, bonded together in the blood, life and love of Christ to enter the
harvest following Him. And when our work is done, Israel will recall who their
"rock" is, call His name and finish the work God has given them to
do.
Psalm
78:32-55
Isn’t it weird
that we’re reading the end of Deuteronomy and the song of Moses and then also
reading this psalm that addresses the same things?
Vs. 32-35 These
verses seem to be referring to Kadesh-barnea and the death of that generation.
Look at Deuteronomy 32:4, 15 and 18 and Psalm 78:35. Pretty cool, huh? This is
one of the reasons that reading The One Year Bible "rocks."
Vs. 36-41 Now
the psalmist is showing how they put God to the test in the wilderness. The
rebellion of Korah, the crying of the people for meat and for water, and
Baal-Peor would have been a part of this.
Vs. 42-55 This
is the summary of their salvation. It was God's love for Israel shown in
freeing them from Egypt and giving them the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. Underline in your Bible what God
did and what they did.
We don't want
to imitate Israel. What "story" is our claim to fame (redemption) and
what should that mean for us as we follow Jesus in the harvest? See Luke above.
Proverbs 12:21-23
Now, going
backwards, I understand that a prudent person judges situations and weighs and
watches his words. I understand that God delights in us when we act faithfully.
So, how do you
understand that no ill befalls the
righteous? The meaning must be hinted at in the second part of v. 21. A
wicked person is full of trouble, anxiousness and inner conflict. That must be
the "ill" that befalls him; that is, being full of stress, full of
conflict and having a bad conscience.
All sorts of
bad things happen to righteous people, but the permanent "ill" of
having a sick heart, mind, and conscience, and living in inner conflict and
stress, doesn't happen to someone whose heart is being massaged daily by the
Spirit in the Word. Knowing God and His love and forgiveness in Christ defines
us and determines our actions and thoughts. God in us and with us continually
protects and heals us, as we follow Him.
Didn't Jesus
just say something like this in Luke?
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these
comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in
growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see
the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples,
meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out
and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal
manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us
more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are
only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of
God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are
designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is
that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a
year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples,
disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more
descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the
Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the
commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never
hurts.
I am not endorsing any
particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte
Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with
us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their
own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular
tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to
criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has
written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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